TexMessage: Ron Paul uploads shirtless photos to his Facebook page

Happy Hump Day, TexMessagers! If you check out the topless photo of Ron Paul below, we feel sure you’ll agree with us on this: Ron Paul is no Anthony Weiner.

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TEXclusive

Former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is a step closer to his 2012 goal of becoming the first African American Republican from Texas ever elected to Congress. But while Williams may be closer to the goal, he’s heading toward a different goal post.

The charismatic conservative who grew up in Midland yesterday made official what had been rumored for weeks — he’s shifting from the race for retiring Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate seat to the newly drawn 33rd Congressional District that stretches west from Arlington in the fast-growing Metroplex.

Williams decided not to seek the Senate seat after fellow conservative Ted Cruz cornered the market of conservative endorsements — running up an impressive string of endorsements from conservative stalwarts ranging from Reagan Attorney General Ed Meese to Texas political icon Ernie Angelo. Now, Williams will go into the House race an early favorite unless (1) the federal courts redraw the district because of the Legislature’s failure to create a Latino-majority district in the D-FW area or (2) another well-known figure shifts from the Senate race, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams.

If elected to Congress, Michael Williams would become an instant star on the right — his principled conservatism offering a powerful counterpoint to President Obama’s brand of pragmatic liberalism. But Williams knows enough not to take anything for granted.

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Texas Tips

Every morning, we offer Texas news you may not have heard and insights from the Washington bureau staff.

★ DO YOU SEE DOUBLE — OR PERHAPS, DUBYA? Here at TxPotomac, when we close our eyes and listen to Rick Perry speak, sometimes we imagine the governor as a president — or, more specifically, as former President George W. Bush.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones who think this. Aaron Blake at PostPolitics agrees that Perry’s speech pattern and accent are similar to his fellow Texan’s, the robotic gesticulations, and yes, even the famous Dubya chuckle.

Don’t believe us? Watch some key moments from Perry’s emerging stump speech last week, edited by Will Tucker of the Washington bureau, and judge for yourself.

“Given Gov. Romney’s past flip-flops on the Right to Life issue and his support for Obamacare-like individual mandates, this stance is very troubling. Right to Life conservatives must question Gov. Romney’s commitment to our cause,” Benton wrote in an email. More>>>

★ ARIZONA SEN. JON KYL SIGNS ON TO SUPPORT KBH’S SOCIAL SECURITY BILL. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison yesterday drew a key endorsement from her colleague Jon Kyl, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, on her legislation that would scale back future Social Security benefits.

“I hope that we will join together and have the guts in the Congress to do it, hopefully with the president’s support,” she said.

Ron Paul enjoys family time at the pool on June 5. (Facebook photo)

★ SHIRTLESS PICTURES OF RON PAUL MAKE THEIR INTERNET DEBUT. Ron Paul has uploaded several topless photos on his Facebook page. No, it’s not what you think — the congressman shared pictures from a day at the pool with his family. (We’re still waiting for some shirtless photos of Rick Perry.)

★ RICK PERRY RUMORS RESURFACE. Should the Texas governor choose to run for president in 2012, his team is more than prepared to address unsubstantiated rumors about his personal life. Politico is the first “mainstream” media outlet to ask Perry’s top strategist about the recycled gossip.

“As you may know, Rick and Anita Perry first met in grade school, went on their first date together in 1966, have been lovingly married since 1982 and are parents to two grown children,” Politico quoted Carney as saying.

★ GROWING SUPPORT FOR TED CRUZ ON THE RIGHT. Conservatives in the Lone Star State continue to unite around Ted Cruz‘s campaign for retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s seat. Long-time taxpayer advocate Peggy Venable and former RNC Committeeman Ernie Angelo are the latest to endorse the former Texas Solicitor General.

Reader Comment of the Day

Diane Wisner-Schiffner He’s not too old but he just doesn’t offer us the background, experience, or hope Americans are looking for in a President; Rick Perry does.

Sheri Alexander ‎^ !?!?! hey look, quick, before shes gone, its one of the 9% of texans who think he can be president. like a rare bird. get on down to the road guv…to retirement!

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Texas Watch

TxPotomac lets you know what stories to look out for today — and later this week.

On Deck: Today

★ House plans to take up a patent law overhaul. Lamar Smith sponsored the bill, called the “America Invents Act”, a version of which has already been passed by the Senate.

★ Joint Economic Committee chair Kevin Brady of Texas will unveil new legislation at the American Enterprise Institute that proposes a comprehensive way to control federal spending. The address is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the offices of AEI, located at 1150 Seventeenth Street, NW , in Washington D.C.